July 4

High school (ages 12+)
Holidays & Celebrations

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/july-4

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Who wrote July 4?Thomas Jefferson
2. What is the date of declaration adoption?July 4, 1776
3. What is the core principles articulated?Equality, unalienable rights (Life, Liberty, pursuit of Happiness)
4. What happened on July 4, 1776?The Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, written mainly by Thomas Jefferson, declaring America free from Great Britain and stating that all people are equal and have rights to life, liberty, and happiness.
5. Why do we have fireworks on July 4?Fireworks celebrate the holiday and show bright colors made by metal salts; they also create sounds and patterns that symbolize joy and freedom.

Unalienable Rights: Fundamental rights that cannot be taken away or denied.
Consent of the Governed: The idea that a government's legitimacy comes from the people it rules.
Pyrotechnics: The art and science of making and using fireworks.